Rock Fishing for beginners - Guide

[Evos]

Hey Anglers ! I wanted to check to see what apps people are checking prior to rock fishing. Also if there is anything in particular they look for or avoid. Usually I jump on Willyweather and check tides but is there anything else to look for ? I noticed that swell isn't available to be viewed on all beaches. 

[Houdini]

Weather forecast is only a prediction. A guess. 

Just because Willyweather has the name of a place and a weather forecast it doesn't mean there is a dedicated weather station in that place. Most all weather aps get their information from the BOM.

For rock fishing I look at Seabreeze 1 week before because I like how it translates the BOMs info into wind, wave period, swell and tide predictions.

Then the day before I look at Seabreeze, the BOM and Swellnet.

Some surfing aps will have more detailed info on swell.

Then with all that info and experience from past fishing trips in similar or varying conditions decide when when or even if to go at all. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rob81]

Look at swell periods. Pretty important when rock fishing. The higher the seconds, the more dangerous it becomes. You start to get an idea of what timing poses what type of risk at different locations. Generally speaking, just put 10 seconds as a rough number you dont want to exceed if youre unsure, then build upon that as you gain experience for different locations. 

[Burger]

I look at willyweather, swellnet and ‘out the window’ observations as my initial guides.

Then spend time watching the waves before I go down to the platforms.

[Steve0]

  

4 hours ago, Evos said:

 Usually I jump on Willyweather and check tides but is there anything else to look for ? I noticed that swell isn't available to be viewed on all beaches. 

Worth bearing in mind: Forecasts are not done individually for every location in Ausralia. There is a grid of weather stations. Forecasts are made for weather stations and places between are calculated mathematically (two estimates and mathematics leaves plentry of room for variation). I know Merimbula Airport and Green Cape were used to predict Eden and the result was often poor for fishing purposes (Southern Ocean affected Greencape).

Generally, after an intense low travels through, swell starts building and takes days after it passes to settle again. 

Willyweather is landbased forecasting. The coastal strip forms its own microclimate, so is more difficult to forecast. On top of that, geographic features can interfere with forecasts (e.g. very large hills bend wind direction).  

Meteye can help with swell and wind, but don't expect perfection.
http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/meteye/

BOM also have a lot of options on this map (unfortunately you cannot drill down) http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/viewer/index.shtml

Nearshore wave tool is very handy for picking swell and heights (beware extra large waves when multiple swell directions are running, but you can also get swells of different length in the same direction).
NSW Nearshore Wave Tool
(not as good as the old version that showed waves going right to shore  - you could pick wave height each end of a beach with that). 

MHL wave height is also useful https://mhl.nsw.gov.au/Station-SYDDOW

Wave height may vary depending on swell direction. One side of a point may offer better shelter than the other. In other words, having different location  the North side and the South side of points may give you safer alternatives for fishing. 

Surf cameras are handy (if you can find ones with free access these days). The cameras I was using want subscriptions now!

Learn to understand BOM's MSLP. http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/charts/synoptic_col.shtml
Fronts and troughs are an indication of fast changes (including storms).

Sea temperature is handy once you get to know your species (e.g. when based in Eden, I used to watch for the cold current moving up from Victoria to pick the approximate time large Tailor would be migrating North). It should be similarly useful for pelagic species further North and for predicting when fish actvity increases (worth tracking in your diary, if you have one). 
http://www.bom.gov.au/oceanography/forecasts/idyoc300.shtml?region=NSW&forecast=SST

 

[mrsswordfisherman]

Thanks Steve we used to have all those links on our top menu. 

Perhaps we can do a pinned post in Boating. @Steve0 you have made a great start. Could you make that post for us? 
Other apps can be added. 

DECKEE app has good weather info taken from BOM of course. The app also sends out Marine weather warnings via sms. 

[Steve0]

4 hours ago, mrsswordfisherman said:

Thanks Steve we used to have all those links on our top menu. 

Perhaps we can do a pinned post in Boating. @Steve0 you have made a great start. Could you make that post for us? 
Other apps can be added. 

DECKEE app has good weather info taken from BOM of course. The app also sends out Marine weather warnings via sms. 

My concern was always rocks rather than boat (delicate tum-tum, or should that be balance sensitivity). I do know there would often be large swell warnings off Eden. You could see the saw-teeth on the horizon, but the shore break would still be friendly. Down there, I suspect it was the Southern ocean effect, but I never took enough interest in offshore swell and wind to collect any resources. I suppose BOM warnings, swell and wind maps covering offshore would cover it OK?

The answer is: give me a while outline something and fill the gaps. Hopefully, I can find a few surfcams.  I possibly have other links in my collection. As I recall, surfing reports are also useful for along the shorline.